01-92 Judah & Tamar

Genesis 38:1-30

The events set forth in ch 38 are…(unique, sensitive, extraordinary?) In it we find sin & judgment (God strikes 2 men dead), prostitution, cultural practices and cultic rituals, Canaanite worship, deception (probably not fit for a Hallmark movie). But this is God’s Word…

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NASB95

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

It seems like this chapter is out of place. Liberal scholars say this is evidence that Genesis is made up from several sources. But it is specifically placed here—in the midst of the Joseph narrative and contains rich instruction that helps us understand what is coming in Genesis and relevant for the revelation of God’s Word as a whole.

The story of Judah & Tamar is not just a moral story, warning us against passions being inflamed or against neglecting family duty. That’s not the application. I think we all agree that prostitution is contrary to holiness. This is the story of God’s marvelous, undeserved, transforming grace that is really the gateway thru which we see God’s purposes come to pass.

We see the ultimate outcome of Gen 38 in the book of Revelation.

Rev 5:1-10, 12;

There is no “Lamb that was slain” without Gen 38. There is no king of Israel without Gen 38—, There is no lineage of the Messiah; including 5 women part of Jesus’ lineage. The promise was made to David that one of his descendants would sit on the throne forever—this promise is built on Gen 38 & 49.

Gen 49…Israel’s last will and testament. vs 1— then Reuben (disgraced), Simeon & Levi (disgraced), Judah vv 8-12. How does Judah come from being the schemer to sell Joseph to the travelling caravan to being the son of favor—thru whom the kingly line will descend—ultimately leading to the Messiah? How does the unrighteous man become righteous? That is the message we find in Gen 38—seeing God’s grace in a beautiful way.

I want to divide our vv into 3 parts:

1. The Threat to Judah’s Line

vv 1-11

Ch 38 takes place during the time Joseph is in Egypt. Joseph is sold when he was 17 yrs old. He is 30 when he is elevated in Egypt (41:46). Including 7 years of plenty and 2 (of 7 yrs) of famine (22 years) before Joseph is reunited with his brothers. This is what Moses is referring to “it came about at that time” (vs 1). There is time for Judah to leave home, marry, have 3 sons, bury 2 sons along with his wife, and have this notable exchange with Tamar.

At this time Judah (4th oldest) leaves his brothers and travels to Adullam (about 10 mi NW of Hebron) where he visits a friend named Hirah. This is the place that would be remembered as David hides in a cave while being pursued by Saul (1 Sam 22:1). While here, Judah takes notice of an unnamed Canaanite woman only identified as the daughter of Shua (vs 12—we never do learn of her name). Judah’s line will be threatened because of his own sin and the sins of his sons.

Judah’s Sin

The warning against marry the daughters of the Canaanites was long understood by Jacob’s sons. They knew of Abraham who charged his servant Eliezer:

Genesis 24:3 NASB95

3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live,

When Isaac sent Jacob to Haran:

Genesis 28:1 NASB95

1 So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.

It was very important to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that marriage be within the family (even extended family). This is called “endogamy.” This was to prevent the danger of paganism and later Israel would be prohibited from taking them for their wives and their husbands:

Deuteronomy 7:3–6 NASB95

3 “Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 4 “For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. 5 “But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Judah (4th born) is now in the place of the birthright b/c of the sins of his older brothers (35:22, Gen 34). He knew the inherent dangers of marrying a Canaanite woman and yet thats precisely what he does. While he was with his friend Hirah, he set his eyes on this woman, took her (in marriage) and went in to her—so she conceived. There is fertility as 3 sons are born to Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah. And we fast forward a bit and find that Judah finds a wife for Er, another Canaanite woman whose name was Tamar.

It is never wise to marry an unbeliever. And I’m sure the law of attraction makes that difficult to overcome (as in Judah’s case). Believers will encounter difficulty from the beginning when you are unequally yoked to an unbeliever. Paul urged the Corinthians to marry only in the Lord. Those of you who are single, pursue that for yourselves—marry another Xn: that is God’s will for you.

Judah did not and is led further away from the Lord. Another sin that would threaten his lineage would be his sin of immorality—seeking to have relations with a temple prostitute—to a woman actually betrothed to his youngest son (though he didn’t know it at the time).

Judah’s Sons’ Sin

There are other sins that would threaten the lineage and we find this in Judah’s sons. First there is Er. He is Judah’s 1st born (vs 7). As such, the lineage would be expected to pass thru him and this is why we are told that Judah found him a wife. He wanted to be sure that the line would continue thru his eldest son.

Moses explains that Er was evil in the sight of the Lord (vs 7). We don’t have anything else to help us understand what Er did, but his life was contrary to the way of the Lord. He was evil, wicked. He was not a worshiper of YHWH so notice how God responds: The Lord took his life. Struck him dead. There are many examples in the Bible of people God strikes dead over sins they have committed. Nadab & Abihu (Aaron’s sons), Uzzah (put his hand on the ark to keep it from upsetting), Ananias & Sapphira (lied to the HS). Er is added to that list b/c his wickedness was such that God put him to death.

Judah’s 2nd son, Onan was guilty of another sin for which the Lord took his life (vs 10). After Er’s death, Tamar was a widow and had born no children to Judah’s 1st born. A widow in those times not only lost their husband but their economic life was threatened b/c there was no longer a male provider/protector. She would be completely dependent on the male members of her family—first, her father and brothers, then her husband’s household and his brothers.

Levirate Marriage

In Dt 25:5-10; a law known as “levirate marriage” (levir=brother-in-law) obligated the widow to marry within her dead husband’s household. In turn the husband’s household was obligated to provide a male heir and the order of responsibility fell to the next oldest son. Another example of this is found in the book of Ruth. If you want to explore this concept read those passages concerning the levirate marriage.

This is what Judah is commanding of his 2nd son—Onan. Tamar had not produced a child to Er, so it was Onan’s obligation to provide offspring for his brother that would carry on the family lineage. Judah told him “this is your duty” (vs 8).

vs 9— “when” is better translated “whenever” b/c it was not one isolated event but continually fulfilling his pleasures but not impregnating Tamar as was his duty. Most commentators agree that Onan’s sin was not wasting (destroying) his seed on the ground but that of disobedience and irreverence toward his family and his responsibilities. Because he acted this way (on-going basis) the Lord took his life also.

There was now the immediate threat to Judah’s line, for there was only 1 more son to carry on that lineage—Shelah. So vs 11. Instead of giving Shelah to her right away, he told Tamar to go back under her father’s home to be provided for and protected by him until Shelah grows up. In this way, she is officially engaged to Shelah, Judah’s youngest son.

2. The Treachery of Tamar’s Plan

12-23

“considerable time…” Judah’s wife (unnamed) has died and there’s a period mourning, afterward Judah goes up to oversee the sheepshearing at the place of Timnah (further NW from Adullam). He takes his friend Hirah and word comes to Tamar that Judah is on the move. Its been some time since she has been living with her father, and all this time Judah has not fulfilled his promise by giving Shelah to be her husband.

vs 14: she changes her clothes and puts on a veil. The purpose was to disguise herself to Judah. Knowing what kind of a man Judah was after his time of mourning was over, he would be seeking female companionship. Derek Kidner notes: Tamar also knew that the cultic prostitutes would be selling their services as fertility magic to ensure the growth of fields and herds. So she disguises herself and Judah doesn’t recognize her b/c of the veil and he thinks she is a temple prostitute—common practice of Canaanite worship.

For her part, Tamar has Judah’s attention—as he makes the advance toward her b/c he of his sensual appetite he says to her: vs 16. Moses affirms Judah did not know her identity so Tamar responds: “what will you give me?” This has now become a business-like transaction…agreement for services for a pledged payment.

The payment: a young goat (vs 17). Apparently this was a very generous payment since it would have been a tender animal and very tasty (exact price Samson pays to visit his wife Judges 15:1). It was Judah’s intention to send this young goat at a later time and to make certain that she would be getting a goat, Tamar demands a pledge of that payment price. She asks Judah to hand over his seal (round cylinder hung around the neck), cord and staff. Tamar is actually quite shrewd as her plan assumes that Judah would not be prone to take responsibility if she were to become pregnant and these were distinctive of the owner that he couldn’t deny they belonged to him. Now, the fact that Judah was in possession of these things might suggest that he was already in possession of the birthright that his older brothers had disqualified themselves from.

Judah consents, engages in relations with Tamar and she conceives though Judah doesn’t know. She promptly returns to her father’s house and resumes her life as a widow.

Meanwhile, Judah makes good on his part to send the young goat by way of Hirah but of course when he arrives he doesn’t find the woman anywhere—vs 20-21. Now one had any recollection of her.

Hirah returns to Judah (22-23) and explains what he encountered and he is ready to consider the pledge to be a loss: his seal, cord and staff—thinking he would be a laughingstock (contempt, scorn, ridicule) since the woman on the street out-witted and took advantage of him. He is willing to give it up to bury the story.

Tamar intentionally deceived Judah so she could become pregnant—albeit, in a very cunning and shrewd manner. She was successful in this plan of treachery—for she is now with child and Judah is the father.

3. The Transformation of Judah’s Heart

24-30

Now 3 months later, Judah’s anger begins to boil against Tamar. He learns that his daughter-in-law is pregnant and it is reported that the child is a child of harlotry. With a self-righteousness, Judah declares her fate, “bring her out…burned.” This is unmasked brutality. However the stakes of sin are high.

Leviticus 21:9 NASB95

9 ‘Also the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by harlotry, she profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.

Deuteronomy 22:21 NASB95

21 then they shall bring out the girl to the doorway of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death because she has committed an act of folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her father’s house; thus you shall purge the evil from among you.

Death for the prostitute was not unheard of but Judah’s judgment ignored his own sin. He still doesn’t know the circumstances behind Tamar’s pregnancy. This is where Tamar truly triumphs in the story. vs 25 “while…”

This account is not unlike that which transpired b/t David & Bathsheba. David has committed adultery and murder and Nathan the prophet confronts the king telling him a story of gross misconduct in his kingdom. David’s anger burned and he responds with the judgment that the offender deserves to die.

It is at this point, Nathan reveals that David is the man and he explains all of David’s sin that he committed.

David finally responds:

2 Samuel 12:13 NASB95

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.

Come back to Judah, when he examines the seal, cord and staff—at once he recognizes them and knows the part that he play in Tamar becoming pregnant. His response is a precious demonstration of the transformation of his heart. He said “She is more righteous…”

Now, how can the activities of Tamar who played the harlot be spoken of as “more righteous?” Judah is only commenting on the depth of his own unrighteousness at this point. Compared to Tamar, Judah’s righteousness is like filthy rags. He has nothing to boast of and knows he stands guilty.

Judah’s heart is transformed. In most cases we don’t have a clear point in time when OT saints are justified. The exception is Abraham “believed and justified.” This may well be the point of Judah’s justification and it certainly marks a turning point in his own life.

Now, the rest of the story is Tamar is ready to give birth and there’s twins in the womb (Jacob & Esau). As the 1st child emerges, Tamar’s midwife ties a scarlet thread around the hand to identify him as the 1st born. But a remarkable thing happens, the 1st child (with the thread) is sort of pushed aside by the other child and he comes out first. The midwife says “what a breach…” He was named Perez b/c he broke thru instead of the 1st child. The 2nd bor, who retracted his hand came out next and given the name Zerah (dawning/shining).

It is Perez thru whom the Lion of Judah will be born bringing salvation to the world.

Judah’s life begs the question, “Is he morally fit to carry the Messianic seed?” Is Judah fit to be part of God’s promise that all the families of the earth would be blessed? And the answer is a resounding NO! Judah is not morally fit for that purpose, in fact no one is and that is the wonder of God’s infinite and matchless grace.

Judah did not deserve that blessing of participation. Judah does not deserve justification but God was gracious to him and we see the remarkable transformation in his life at some point in these 22 years before the brothers of Joseph will be reunited to him.

In the following chapters, we will see how that works itself out. When the brothers finally make the journey to Egypt they find the ruler of Egypt—they didn’t recognize him but Joseph knew his brothers. And he is going to hold Simeon captive while his brothers return home and bring their youngest brother Benjamin back to Joseph. They do that and they again come into Joseph’s presence, this time with Benjamin and Joseph races out of the room and just weeps. They eat a meal and Joseph is going to send them on their way home with all the provisions they are going to need and he sneaks a silver cup into Benjamin’s sack which he is going to be caught with. They are brought back to Joseph and confronted and Joseph commands that Benjamin become a slave. And Judah steps up to speak:

Gen 44:16ff

Going from the one who suggested the brothers profit from selling Jospeh into slavery, committing adultery with Tamar, to offering himself as a substitute in place of Benjamin—Judah’s transformation is all about the goodness of God’s grace.

And so it is with anyone who stands right before God—only b/c the LJC was your substitute, taking your sin and God’s wrath upon that sin at the cross and then God takes the righteousness of LJC and he puts that on your account so that you are justified before the Holy One. God’s grace is truly amazing and He is ready to cover you with it today.